SARAH MOWER REQUA

Pioneer homemaker of distinction moved from Nevada Comstock to Bay Area

Sarah Mower Requa lived with her husband Isaac Requa, a prominent mine superintendent, in two great mansions; the Chollar Mansion in Virginia City, Nev., and later The Highlands residence in Piedmont, California, and was well known for her hospitality.  She was honored for her charity work for soldiers and earthquake survivors in California.

Sarah Jane Mower was born in Bangor, Maine to Dan and Mary Horn Mower. Sarah’s birth date is listed in several sources as June 22, 1829, but we are using her Find A Grave date of Jan. 8, 1831, as indicated on her headstone. Her father died in Maine, in 1849, and her mother and three younger sisters left Maine for California around Cape Horn, in the early 1850s to join Sarah’s brother Amos, who had earlier moved to San Francisco.

Sarah’s obituary states that her mother died at the Caroline Islands. Sarah was 14 years old and took charge of her younger brothers and sisters. That story is a myth. In her own words Sarah tells of her early life in an Oakland Enquirer article by Mollie Conners in 1921. Here is what she said about the passage.

In 1851, Sally Mower, who was afterward Mrs. Isaac Requa, sailed from Belfast, Maine. The family home was in Bangor, and a few months before the Mowers had sailed for the land of gold. They sent for their little girl to join them. She set forth under the chaperonage of a friend.

But midway in the voyage the friend died and was buried at St. Katherines and the little girl of 14 was left to care for two small children which she brought safely to their father after a journey of five months in a sailing vessel on the ocean.

Records of Mary Mower’s life show that she moved to the Comstock Lode with Sarah and her sister, where Sarah was a noted cook and made money of her own during that time. Mrs. Mower was a famous housekeeper, and she saw to it that her daughter was well trained.

Sarah met Isaac Requa in Gold Hill, who lived near her. They married in San Francisco June 15, 1863, and returned to Gold Hill. In 1861, Isaac had traveled to Virginia City, Nevada, with California mining experience to leave his mark upon the Comstock Lode. Over the next eighteen years, he was the superintendent of the Chollar-Potosi mines, the Gould & Curry mine, and the Union Mill and Mining Company. Isaac was a member of the House of Representatives in the Territorial Legislature of Nevada from Storey County, (Union, 9/1863-11/1864), in which position he served with distinction to himself and advantage to that territory. He favored all measures intended to develop the resources of Nevada.

The Requas lived at the Chollar Mansion at 565 South D Street just below the Fourth Ward School in Virginia City, Nevada. The 1861 Federalist-style structure originally served as the mine’s head office and his private residence and still stands today. Sarah was known for her hospitality. She had many distinguished guests, such as General Sherman and General Grant. She entertained financiers from New York visiting the mines.

Ellis Davis writes that Sarah made their home in Virginia City a real Western home, a place where friendship and hospitality were a vital force to hold and keep. She studied homeopathic medicine to help her follow pioneers. She also founded a church in Gold Hill. Their son Mark Lawrence Requa was born in Virginia City, Nev., Dec. 25, 1865.

As is true for many of the families who got rich on the Comstock, the Requas moved to the Bay Area. Isaac purchased eighty acres of land on the Eastbay near Oakland. In 1876 they built a large home called The Highlands and established Piedmont, California. Their daughter Amy Requa was born in San Francisco, July 31, 1876, at the Palace Hotel where they were living while The Highlands was being built.

In the 1880s there were only seven houses where the City of Piedmont is now. The biggest house was owned by Isaac and Sarah Requa. It was painted yellow and, because there were no trees on the hills, sailors could see the house from San Francisco Bay.

After William Sharon died in 1885, Isaac was president of the Central Pacific Railroad for many years, and a director of other Huntington lines.

Sarah’s mother Mary Mower died in Napa City, Calif., on October 16, 1890, at age 80. Her death notice in the Napa County Report states “she has been an invalid for some time. Her married daughters are Mrs. H.P. [Alberta] Goodman of Napa, Mrs. J.W. Shaw of New York, Mrs. Blanchard of Mexico and three other ladies. The remains will be sent to Oakland for interment.” It does not list Sarah Requa as one of her daughters. This suggests they did not have close ties.

Life was not all smooth for the wealthy Sarah Requa in the newly forming social circles of Oakland. In 1895 the San Francisco Examiner had an article about a rift with her cohort. Sarah Requa was very concerned that there were few opportunities for wealthy people’s children to meet each other in activities appropriate for their social level. She and several other “patronesses” established the “Deux Tempa Club” for dancing and socializing of their children. However, Mrs. Requa said that the events should end at 10:30 on Saturday nights and the other founders said 11:00 was better. Mrs. Requa did not want the children out so close to Sunday morning. After losing the discussion, she and her daughter Amy resigned from the club. She is quoted as saying “Oakland is a social desert … Oakland is one of the dullest places I have ever seen. There is absolutely nothing in the way of social amusement for the younger set.”

This did not deter her from continuing her charitable work. During the Spanish-American War soldiers were returning to the United States primarily through San Francisco. Mrs. Requa organized many people to give aid to these soldiers. The Alameda Times Star, 1898, honored Mrs. Requa for her work. “The Oakland Red Cross workers, under the leadership of Mrs. I.L. Requa, have been very busy at the ferry for several weeks and have kept ‘open house’ there for the incoming soldiers.” And still in 1899, the Oakland Tribune wrote “Mrs. I.L. Requa of Piedmont, one of Oakland’s most prominent society leaders, is equally as prominent in charitable work. As president of the Fabiola Hospital Association, and also of the Red Cross Society, she has been foremost in the relief of the sick soldiers who have been brought to this side of the bay. During the encampment of the Eighth Regiment at Camp Barrett Mrs. Requa was untiring in her efforts to make the lot of the volunteer as happy as possible under the circumstances. Her connection with the West Oakland Home and West Oakland Free Kindergarten has been such that many a little unfortunate can testify to her kindness. Mrs. Requa also has private cases without number, which, though important, are not brought to the public notice.”

Isaac Requa died at The Highlands on March 29, 1905. After that Sarah would not allow any of the furniture to be moved and wore black clothing. She continued to live at The Highlands. She had a large birthday event for her 90^th birthday, which welcomed 300 people. Her children and grandchildren built houses in Piedmont and were her highest priority during her life.

Following the great earthquake in San Francisco, 1906, Sarah and her daughter Amy Long were busy with the Red Cross work for survivors of the disaster. Amy was an officer of the Oakland Red Cross Society and Sarah was on the Receiving Committee for items sent to the Red Cross. Mark Requa returned from Tonopah, Nevada shortly after the earthquake and walked all the way to The Highlands because there were no streetcars. Amy was the president of the Traction Hospital and established the Maternity Home for those in need, assisted by her mother.

In happier times, leading up to the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, Sarah was involved in the planning of this great event.

“Mrs. Isaac L. Requa, who for a lifetime of years has been a worker in every humanitarian cause, both in Oakland and San Francisco, was made an honorary vice-president. She represented the Alameda County women, who contributed a splendid share to the Exposition.”

Sarah Mower Requa lived for another 17 years after Isaac and died of pneumonia at The Highlands on December 1, 1922.

After Sarah’s death her children did not have the heart to sell the family home. Instead, The Highlands was demolished in 1923. Daughter Amy Requa Long became a real estate agent and subdivided the highlands into lots beginning in 1927.

In 1959, Mark Requa’s daughter, Amy Requa Russell wrote a family history of her grandmother Sarah Mower Requa, entitled “My Grandmother’s Story. Sarah Jane Mower.” This is not a story of Sarah’s life but is a detailed family history of the many ancestors that helped form the United States from the day in 1638, when “Richard Mower, Mariner, of Devonshire, England” sprang ashore on the beach at Naumkeag, Massachusetts Bay Colony.” Occasionally in the story, Amy relates a memory about her grandmother that shows Sarah was as strong and independent as her ancestors.

Sarah Jane Mower Requa is buried in the Requa plot in Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland, California. She and Isaac have nearly their entire immediate family with them. Their children Mark L. Requa and Amy Requa Long Mitten, and their spouses; their grandchildren and their spouses, and Sarah’s mother Mary Mower.

Researched and written by Mona Reno, 2026. Posted August 2026.